Adherence

Nutrition interventions significantly reduce weight, BMI, and waist circumference in people with severe mental illness (SMI), with larger effect sizes when delivered by dietitians or initiated at antipsychotic therapy start.

For individuals with severe mental illness, structured nutrition interventions are effective for weight management. The most effective approach involves dietitian-led individualized counseling, ideally starting when antipsychotic therapy begins. These interventions should focus on behavior change strategies like goal-setting and food literacy rather than just providing information.